How Soon Is Too Soon To Date After Giving Birth?

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

Not long before welcoming her baby girl in April, fans learned that Lira Galore Mercer had called it quits with her fiancé, Pierre “Pee” Thomas. Infidelity certainly played a role in the split considering that Thomas welcomed a baby with another woman, Kayla Will, just one month before the birth of the child he shares with Mercer.

The model wrote of the split in an Instagram story back in December. “Now y’all know I’m an unproblematic queen .. & I be chillin. Y’all know ion do the internet BS …however …We both knew she’s been pregnant & you never ‘publically acknowledged the fact.’ You took your ring like you do EVERYTIME you throw a temper tantrum. I haven’t spoken to you for over 4 days & you in ya feelings & wanna be petty bc I RT’d a fake quotable page.”

Four days apparently turned to into 12 months and now the model and new mom has re-entered the dating scene — a decision that has been met with harsh criticism from folks on social media. The 25-year-old recently took to Twitter to address her critics and defend her decision to date with a small infant at home.

https://twitter.com/_LiraGalore/status/1154234430183133184

https://twitter.com/_LiraGalore/status/1154237114667716610

Mercer went on to make an interesting point, which is deeply reflective of the double standards our society holds when it comes to men, women, and childrearing. The woman is expected to stop her life and while the man can resume life as usual.

“If I JUST had a baby so did he, nobody checkin if he walkin a tight rope tf,” she tweeted.

https://twitter.com/_LiraGalore/status/1154237441328525312

I’m always equally amused and annoyed by people who attempt to police the lives and choices of others with such passion and vigilance — especially those of mothers and pregnant women.

https://twitter.com/_LiraGalore/status/1154252295963586560

At the same time, I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t quietly judge people who were dating with newborns in the past. Since welcoming a baby of my own, however, my self-righteous views have been quelled by the realities of motherhood. I have no idea how people find the time to finesse dating and caring for a newborn, but to those who can, I say live and let live. If Lira, or any other mother for that matter, is able to manage meeting all of her baby’s physical and emotional needs while navigating the world of dating, she should do what makes her happy.

What are your thoughts? How soon is too soon to date after giving birth?

Follow Jazmine on Twitter @jazminedenise and visit her blog, Black Girl Mom